Instrument for obtaining lengths and bevels of rafters



(No Model.) I H. GONLEE.

INSTRUMENT FOR OBTAINING LBNGTHS AND BEVE LS OF RAPTERS.

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.WITNESSE ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES HARRISON CONLEE, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

PETERSBUBG, ILLINOIS.

INSTRUMENT FOR OBTAINING LENGTHS AND BEVELS OF RAFTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,723, datedSeptember '7, 1886.

Application filed May 4, 1886.

.To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRISON CoNLEE, of Petersburg, in the county ofMenard and State of Illinois, have invented a new and ImprovedMeasuring-Instrument, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improvedmeasuring-instrument for obtaining the accurate length and bevels ofrafters for any inclination of the roof and for other purposes withoutarithmetical calcula tion.

The invention consists of a frame having one graduated edge and providedwith a protractor at right angles with the frame, of a graduated boardhinged to the frame, and of a hinged graduated straight-edge providedwith a sliding block.

The invention also consists of various parts and details andcombinations of the same, as hereinafter more fully described, andpointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the same when closed. Figs. 3 and4 are side elevations of the same inpositions for obtaining angles by the help of a square and angle gage.

The rectangular frame A is provided with the side arm, B, having on itsinner edge the graduation a, and with arm or bar 0 at right angles withthe arm B and also having on its inner edge a graduation, b. Thezero-point of the graduation a and b is at the junction of the arms Band O, and the graduations represent feet and subdivisions thereof. Theframe A is also provided with the arm D, parallel with the arm 0, and onits inner face is fastened the protractor E, having the circular recessF and its center at the junction of the upper inner edges of the arms Band D.

Between the arms 0 and D is placed and hinged to the arm B the board G,which, when closed, is flush with the upper edges of the frame A, and isprovided with the parallel lines 0, corresponding to the graduation or,and with parallel lines d, corresponding to the graduation I). Astraight-edge, H, is attached to the arm B by a hinge, I, and has agraduation, 6, of feet and subdivisions on one edge, which commences atthe junction of the arms B and (3, which junction is also the zero-pointfor the graduations e. The plate I of the hinge I is attached to the armB by two screws, J and J, which pass through circular grooves K and K,respectively, which have their common center at the zero-point of thegradua tions a, b, and e. The outer end of the boardG is provided withthetwo projecting arms G G, and rests, when closed, on the cross-piece Bof the main frame A. A bolt, L, projects from the board G on the edgenearest the arm D, and passes through the circular recessF on theprotractor E, and can hold the board G at any desired angle on theprotractor E by a thumb-nut, M, screwing on the outer end of the bolt L.It will be seen that the board G can be swung to any desired angle whichis indicated on the protractor and held in that position by screwing upthe thumbnu't M against the protractor E. The straight-edge will alwaysswing with the board G and can be swung to any diagonal position on theboard G by loosening the screws and turning the hinge plate on the same,the zero-point of the graduations a and I) being the center. hen theboard G is closed, a miter position or an angle of forty-five degrees iseasily oblained by placing the straight-edge H so that the graduatededge will intersect at the junction of lines (I and c of equalvalne-that is, where lines (1 and c, for example, intersect.

The instrument is used for obtaining the length of common rafters-forinstance, for a building which is eight feet wide, by placing a squareon the graduation b at four feet, which is the distance from the centerof the building to the outside, and adjusting the board G to the desiredpitch of the roof on the protractor E. Now, where the square touches oneof the lines (1 on the board G, the distance from there to zeroindicates the length of the common rafter, and by following therespective line 01 across the board. G to the straight edge H, which isset-say at forty-five degrees-then the intersection of the lines d atthe graduation e of the straight-edge H gives the length on thegraduation e of the hip-rafter. By following the line 0, whichintersects the line (I and the graduation 0 down to the graduation a,then the latter indicates the length of the jackrafter.

The bevel for the edge ofjack-rafters is obtained by placing the handleof a common bevel-gage in line with one of the lines 0 and extending themovable blade of the bevelgage up on the graduated edge of thestraightedge H. The angle thus obtained on the bevelgage is the bevelfor the edge of the jack-rafter.

The upper cut of common rafters is made, as shown in Fig. 3, with theaid of the square T and thebevel-gage U, and the foot-bevel of therafter is obtained by applying the bevelgage U on the foot-board G andthe frame A, as shown to the left in the same figure.

To obtain the foot-bevel of a hip-rafter the bevel-gage is placed on theframe A and the foot H of the straight-edge II, as illustrated in Fig.4c.

To obtain the bevel across the face of the stuff for splay or hopperwork, it is necessary to raise the board G to the required pitch,andthen place the straight-edge H on the board G. By then placing thehandle ofa bevelgage U on the upper edge of the board G and the blade ofthe bevel-gage on the graduated edge of the straight'edge H, then thedesired bevel is obtained.

To obtain the miter across edge of stuff for splay or hopper work, placethe handle of a bevel-gage U on the upper edge of the board G and theblade of gage U against left hand of the block 1?, attached to thestraight-edge H bya set-screw, Q. The bevel thus indicated by thebevel-gage U is the desired bevel for the edge of board or plank.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. In a measuring-instrument, the combinationof a frame, A, having the graduations a and b, with the hinged board G,having lines a and d, and the protractor E, on which the board G can beheld at any desired angle,substantially as shown and described.

2. In a measnring-instrumcnt, the combina tion of a frame, A, having thegraduations a and b, with the hinged board G, having the lines a and d,the protractor E, on which the board G can be held at any desired angle,and the hinged straight-edge II, having the graduation c, substantiallyas shown and described.

3. I11 a measuring-instrument, the combina tion of the frame A, havingthe graduations a and Z), and the hinged board G, having the lines 0 andd, with the straight-edge II, having the graduation 0, the hinge I,having the concentric grooves K and K, and the screws or bolts J and J,substantially as shown and described.

4. In a measuring-instrument, the combination of the frame A, having thegraduations a and Z), and the hinged board G, having the lines 0 and d,with the'straight-edge II, having the graduations e, the hinge I, havingthe concentric grooves K and K, the screws or bolts J and J and theadjustable miter-block P, substantially as shown and described.

HARRISON OONLEE.

Witnesses:

Janus It. GARVEN, JOHN L. DRAKE.

